Communion September 26th, 2021

 Communion September 26th, 2021

Communion Communicates Community and Unity!

Point:

Why do we have communion here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church? We have communion because it fosters community in the body and encourages unity among believers. We not only commune with God but we also commune with God. Communion is togetherness. 

Don't Take Communion, Allow Communion to Take You

This is a Time of…

Reflection

Confession

Adoration

Communion Reminds Us of Death and Life!

Points:

Eastern Shore Baptist Church practices 2 Holy Ordinances. The first you have already seen this morning. Baptism. The second is Communion. 

Eastern Shore Baptist Church practices open Communion. This means that if you have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, even if in another denomination, that you are welcome to participate in Communion. If you have not made a profession of faith in Christ, we invite you to watch and view communion this morning as it explains exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross. 

Communion is a symbol much in the same way baptism is a symbol. It has no saving power but it a powerful expression of love and devotion to Jesus. In the early church, communion was given to church members, or the body of Christ, to symbolize their belonging to Christ. It was given and taken with the full understanding that if called upon, that these early church members would be willing to die or give up their lives for the sake of Christ. A martyr’s death if necessary. 

Point:

So, communion is a serious endeavor. How serious? Well Paul tells us in I Corinthians 11:27-29. 

I Corinthians 11:27-29 (NIV)

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

Point:

This means that we need to come to this alter with a serious attitude and a respectful spirit. None of us want to share in the judgement of God. Rather, we want this solemn act to join us in fellowship and harmony. 

So, how do we prepare ourselves? Simple answer…prayer. 

What should we pray? Simple answer…we pray for pardon, we pray to praise, and we pray for people. We do this because it is Biblical and Scriptural. 

James 5:16 says “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Point:

So, let’s prepare ourselves this morning as we look forward to Communion. 

Prayer of Pardon, Praise and Prayer for People.

I Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The Bread

When Johnny Jennings of Ringgold, Georgia was 18, he made a life-changing visit to a Georgia Baptist children's home. Several children ran up to him and asked to be adopted. "That took my heart, right there," he says. While Jennings wasn't ready to adopt, he promised to do everything he could to help the home's young residents. A few decades later Jennings found a practical way to raise funds for the home—recycling. For the past 32 years Jennings, 87 years young now, has sold 810,063 pounds of paper, $20,275 worth of pennies, and countless pounds of recycled aluminum products. Over the years, he's given $400,000 to the home.

One of his friends told reporters, "Johnny normally loads his truck by himself, and that is a job in itself, and did I mention he is 87 years old and had two small strokes just two weeks ago?" But that didn't stop him from getting back to his paper route. When Jennings' got home from the hospital, he went right back to work. The friend continued, "That is just how he is, and he will not stop until the undertaker turns his toes up, that is what he tells everyone." Johnny Jennings wants to get the most he can out of his old body.” 

Jennings son said, "My dad doesn't see the $400,000. He sees the faces of those kids."

Point:

There was one quote that really spoke to me in that article. “Johnny Jennings wants to get the most he can out of his old body.” You know that we only have one body. One body to do the most with. This 87 year old man has decided that he will use his body to be a benefit to the children of Georgia. How cool is that?

When I read that quote, I was immediately reminded of the body of Christ. This small wafer is representative of that body. Jesus got the most of His body and today we receive the blessing. You see, Jesus’ body took the punishment of God’s wrath. It was Jesus’ body that served as the atonement for our sins. It was broken, beaten, abuse and discarded so that we did not have to suffer. Aren’t you grateful for that today?

The Scriptures tell us that the bread was broken, but it was Jesus’ body that was given for us. It was Jesus’ choice to lay His life down so that we might be at peace with His father. 

Jesus’ body brings peace with His Father, it brings fellowship with His Father, and it is the hope of all sinners everywhere. 

2 Corinthians 5:15 NLT

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Let’s praise God this morning for the body of Christ. 

And they passed the bread.

Short Prayer

John 6:35 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

And they took the bread

The Blood

Let me remind you today that this cup and it’s contents represent the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  

In Luke 8 we discover 2 stories.  Jesus was preaching in the towns and villages and he encounters Jarius.  Jarius’ daughter was sick and he asked Jesus to come and heal her.  Jesus complied.  He makes his way to Jarius’ home.  In the midst of the travel, we have our second story.  While Jesus is walking something strange happens.  Let me read to you Luke 8:42-48.

Luke 8:42-48 ESV

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Let me tell you a few thoughts I have about this story.  

A. The Blood Cleanses 

B. The Blood Is Powerful

First, this lady struggled with a blood disorder for years.  Friend, everyone in this room has a blood problem.  This lady spent all she had to fix it.  She went to doctor after doctor to try to find a remedy.  Nothing would help.  Nothing would work.  There was no cure for her blood problem.  

Friend, there is no cure for our bad blood problem.  Our blood is so infected with sin that there is not physical remedy.  There is no doctor that can fix our blood problem. 

Look what Isaiah 64:6 says… 

Isaiah 64:6 NLT

“We are all infected and impure with sin.”

When this lady realized there was no natural cure for her disease, she reached out for a supernatural answer.  She went to Jesus!

Notice that Jesus says something strange.  He states that “the power had gone out of (Him)”.  Out of Jesus came healing.  Out of Jesus came power.  You see, Jesus’ blood has healing and power in it.  All we have to do is reach out to Him and the cure is available to me and to you.  There is power in the blood of Jesus.  

Listen to Hebrews 9:14…

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Did you catch that?  It is the blood of Christ, he perfect clean blood, that purifies our infected blood.  

Brothers and sisters, are you thankful for the blood of Christ?  Do you remember how life was like when you embraced your blood disorder?  I am thankful that Christ’s blood has offered me healing, power and forgiveness.  

Remember Jesus’ words captured in Matthew 26:28…

Matthew 26:28 ESV

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

And They Passed The Cup

Luke 22:20 (NIV)

In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

The Cup Is Taken

Closing Prayer